100 Influential Leaders in San Diego - Ken Sauder​​

by Jennifer Chung Klam​The Daily TranscriptSeptember 22, 2016

​Sauder has been helping to create affordable housing in California with Wakeland Housing & Development Corp. since 1999. Under his leadership, the nonprofit corporation has developed more than 6,500 units in 40 developments in San Diego and throughout the state.

Sauder has more than 35 years of community development and affordable housing experience at the national, international and local level. Throughout his career, he has worked with a variety of jurisdictions, organizations and funding sources to create affordable housing.

Previously, he served as director of community development for South Bay Community Services and founding director of the Latin American Program for Habitat for Humanity International. He was also the first director of Tijuana-San Diego Habitat for Humanity.Sauder holds a master's degree in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania and currently serves on the board of the California Housing Consortium, the Downtown San Diego Partnership, and is a member of the Building Industry Association of San Diego County.

Wakeland is currently developing an $80 million apartment complex at Fourth Avenue and Beech Street in downtown San Diego. The 205-unit Atmosphere consists of two projects in one building. One portion is affordable housing; the other is for tenants with special needs. Wakeland sees the below-market rental units as a future home for people who work in downtown restaurants, retail and tourism-related businesses. Fifty-one units will be reserved for people who need additional services and extra attention to make a fresh start. The building should be ready for move-ins by May.​Earlier this year, Wakeland celebrated the grand opening of Lofts on Landis in Chula Vista. The 33-unit apartment community is the first in the city to combine affordable housing with health care offices and has parking and office space for the nearby Chula Vista Family Health Center. Amenities include the health center, a children's play structure and laundry facilities.